NRL Supercoach: Who to buy, hold, sell and watch - Round 16

WHO TO BUY IN SUPERCOACH

Kurt Mann CTW - $227,800

Average: 21

Last Round Score: 60

Average Minutes: 29

Breakeven: -17

Verdict: Mann jumped almost $40K in value last
week, but the ship hasn't completely sailed just yet. From out of
nowhere the versatile back pushed Jason Nightingale out of a job,
with coach Paul McGregor noting there were some areas of the Kiwi's
game that needed working on. Mann has made the most of his time,
scoring a try last week and securing his spot for a third week in a
row. There have been concerns about job security, but any doubts
were hosed away when this week's team lists came out. It's not a
purchase to put in your 17, but it's perfect for those looking to
free up cash and cover themselves in the bye. Plus he's not a bad
POD at 5.6 per cent ownership.

Joe Tapine 2RF FRF - $574,300

Average: 60

Last Round Score: 112

Average Minutes: 77

Breakeven: 32

Verdict: There's plenty of hype around the
Green Machine since the return of Josh Hodgson, and we're jumping
on board! While trading in Hodgson is a bold move if you boast a
Damien Cook-Cameron Smith combination, Tapine's purchase has a
little more merit. A slow start to the season saw him average 42.4
across his first five games. But from then, the Canberra back-rower
has produced a five-round average of 77.6. Injuries have kept him
out for a month, although in his first game back he destroyed
things with a whopping score of 112. There's always something
appealing about riding in-form players and Tapine is one who flies
under the radar. Let's be honest, most Supercoaches are looking at
left-field ways to put them right up there at the pointy end of the
season, and with a 2.8 per cent ownership, this may be the buy that
gives you the edge.

WHO TO HOLD IN SUPERCOACH

Martin Taupau FRF - $639,200

Average: 66

Last Round Score: 59

Average Minutes: 53

Breakeven: 81

Verdict: He's United Airlines' number one enemy
after blowing up on social media for a chaotic airport dilemma. And
that drama may cost him a spot in Manly's 17 this weekend. Taupau
only just flew out of Denver on Wednesday, meaning he will join his
teammates just two days before they play Penrith on Saturday. With
a rest on the bye round as well, the Manly prop won't take the
field for a fortnight if Trent Barrett chooses not to play him this
week. But even then, it's still not worth the trade out. From here,
we are labelling Taupau the best front-rower going forward so don't
be tempted to let him loose.

Last week's holds: Viliame Kikau (starting for
Panthers this week) and Rhyse Martin (starting for Canterbury this
week)

WHO TO SELL IN SUPERCOACH

Andrew Fifita FRF - $614,100

Average: 68

Last Round Score: 42

Average Minutes: 62

Breakeven: 118

Verdict: This is a bold, bold call. We know.
But the Sharks' forward roster rotation has us scared, not only
because of the inclusion of Aaron Woods, but also the presence of
Paul Gallen. With the Cronulla skipper producing two eye-catching
scores across the last fortnight, Fifita put in numbers of 54 and
42. When he was producing in the high 80s for a moment, Fifita's
minutes were above 65 with ease. The last two weeks Shane Flanagan
has handed him 47 and 52. And there will be plenty of caution taken
after the Denver Test, plus Woods could steal a few of those
minutes as well in a beefed-up prop firing line. Take those points
for how you see them, but our advice says Fifita has passed his
best.

Mahe Fonua CTW - $438,400

Average: 58

Last Round Score: 46

Average Minutes: 78

Breakeven: 49

Verdict: This one hurts because we had a
genuine keeper who was killing it off base stats alone. Going over
the statistics, Fonua still has a huge 31.8 per cent ownership
despite being ruled out for almost the rest of the season with a
broken arm. There's no point keeping injured players on the books
for long periods and with Kurt Mann floating around as a cheaper,
healthy option, it's a no-brainer.

WHO TO WATCH IN SUPERCOACH

Moses Mbye FLB HFB and Robbie Farah HOK - $449,100,
$380,100

Average: 51, 74

Last Round Score: 76, 64

Average Minutes: 75, 80

Breakeven: 25, -16

Verdict: They could be the two men to turn the Tigers' season
around. The Tigers are the third worst attacking side in the
competition, but with a revamped spine who knows what could happen.
Mbye averaged 51 in a sub-par Bulldogs outfit and has the
opportunity to create more points with an upgraded team list. Farah
on the other hand has shown his nose on just two occasions in 2018,
killing it with an average of 74. The sky is the limit for this
pair, but wait until next week's bye is complete before even
considering them.